On our final Saturday of Ramadan Community Service, we stand together pushing sandwiches, chips, juice, fruit and granola bars into bags, but before closing each one, this week, a new item is added: a single neon sheet of paper, folded pamphlet style, containing information about Islam. It’s important to note that I had been thinking about including some literature in the bags, since we began distributing lunches.

As people the people we've seen for the past three weeks approach our table to receive a lunch, we tell them, "There's some really good information about Islam in your bag. Please, take a look at it. If you’re not interested please pass it on to someone else who might be."There's nothing wrong with including some information about Islam in the lunch, right? If not, why do I have this feeling, our good intentions aside, that as these people look into their lunches they're thinking what these Muslims really wanted to give me was the pamphlet; the lunch was just the bait. Maybe what got me thinking this was the brother who stood in line, grabbed a lunch, walked no more than twenty feet away--opened his bag, saw the pamphlet, and promptly tossed it to the ground--that has me thinking that maybe there’s another way.

Now don't get me wrong, overall, our efforts seem to be genuinely appreciated by the community--Al-Hamdulillah ( The Praise is for G-d). If anyone else threw away their pamphlet they were considerate enough to do it out of sight. It’s a wonderful thing to invite others to this beautiful Deen...the beauty of which is most apparent when it is modeled, lived, and practiced out loud for those who have a spirit to appreciate it. Maybe, if the pamphlet were set aside on the table next to the water, those whose spirits moved them could take one of their own free will and we could cut down on the litter in the streets, and no one would feel that they were being baited into reading about Islam.

As we have become more intelligent, more accomplished, and more degreed, a tendency to overlook the beauty and effectiveness of simplicity follows. When Prophet Muhammad, (peace be upon him), answered the question of what is Islam? He replied with profound simplicity: "Islam is to feed the people and give the Salaams (greetings of peace) to those you know and those you do not know." After reflecting on the whole experience, I think we did our best when we kept things simple: feeding the people to our capacity, modeling zakat/charity, and giving those we came in contact with, and those who passed by, the greetings of peace. Insha'Allah (G-d willing) we will continue to show consistency in our efforts...a much more meaningful, thoughtful, expression of Islam--with or without a pamphlet.

Sometimes the simplest saying can be the most profound: "No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care." On Chicago's southeast side, Masjid Al-Taqwa is positioned in a community in need. Bridging The Gap has collaborated with Masjid Al-Taqwa through the month of Ramadan to provide bag lunches each Saturday to community residents.

Our first Saturday out we prepared and passed out a little over 200 lunches; the second Saturday we reached 258, and our third Saturday ended with 420 lunches being prepared and passed out to the community. We didn't place any limits on people. It was not uncommon to see a mother leaving the line with twelve lunches in hand, though some did take a single bag.

We are not deluding ourselves into thinking that providing a lunch is commensurate with employing a man or woman, or providing housing, or child-care, but it does show in the simplest form that we care about the community. A week ago, a young man--while reflecting on an unpleasant recent experience at a food pantry-- said, "when people see you desperate, they treat you like *#@#!" I believe that we are well on our way to overcoming that type of expectation from those who claim they are here to help.

The dignity of each person must be protected and the state of need that prompts a person to stand in line for a lunch (or any other zakat/charity) should never result in diminishing their value as a human being.

We'll be back this coming Saturday, August 3rd 2013 , 10am-12pm, doing our best to demonstrate the spirit of Islam.

The late Malcolm X made the following statement: "If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing."

The not guilty verdict rendered in favor of George Zimmerman was an approval of oppression. It was a vote of confidence for anyone who claims the sight of young black men outside of impoverished neighborhoods to be suspicious, and deserving of scrutiny. That not-guilty verdict attempted to negate the obvious hatred and prejudice that saw Trayvon Martin's light extinguished by a man (Zimmerman) who has only forestalled justice; he has not escaped it.

The medias demonization of black men, young and old, must end. BTG stands in solidarity with the Martin family and urges all moral, God conscious, upright people--irrespective of race or religion--to not only condemn the decision rendered by the jury, but to also work toward affecting the changes needed to bring about true justice and equality for all.

Each time Eric Cannon, also known as "Brother Vell" to the students of CMECCA/BTG Islamic Weekend School pulls a young brother aside to work on mastering the specifics of Salat (prayer), you see a little less fight in them. They're beginning to see - slowly but surely- and accept that they are future leaders, and that time is not standing still.

Brothers in the 13 and up age group are prepared to lead Salat. They are given a target date and Brother Vell diligently works with them, one by one, and when needed two at a time, all in an effort to get them ready for their day.

As adults, especially those of us who have led congregational prayer outside of our homes, we may not recall the butterflies which most certainly flutter about the bellies of these young untried souls. Nervous, as they attempt to ready themselves against the judgement, sure to come, by their peers should they stutter or forget. But, if they are successful they know they will be looked at differently, even if only slightly.

They want to succeed. They want to be seen as responsible, dedicated, and trustworthy. They want to be looked at as role-models, even as they feign disinterest in leading the prayer.

A 14 year old brother calls the Adhan and Iqamat; a 16 year old steps up for the first time to lead the prayer, with Brother Vell at his side. The young man makes it through one, two, three, and four rakat, performs the Tasleem and ends the Salat by leading the 40 plus, students and instructors in Al-Fatiha.

A resounding "Takbir!" reverberates through the room, issued by none other than Brother Vell; we all respond with "Allahu-Akbar!!" I stand and inform everyone that this young man is now going to be seen differently; we're going to have greater expectations of him...he's stepped into the role of a leader now.

I tell him, "I'm proud of you," and he manages to get a "thank you" out past the smile he's trying to hide. It's obvious to all the instructors, especially Brother Vell, that this young man is also proud of himself. He's taken an important first step...he has good reason to be.

March 6, 2012, South Holland, IL, a south suburb of Chicago- The twenty Muslim youth attending Bridging the Gap’s (501)(c3) “Taste of the Other” cultural enrichment outing--a visit to Chicago’s Harris Theater, blocks away from Millennium Park-- wait anxiously for the coach bus to come to a full stop. They were there to see, and celebrate, the Morehouse College Glee Club (MCGC) and their Centennial Performance. And, even though many of the youth had never heard of MCGC, and in some cases had not even heard of Morehouse, they were here to get a taste of music they had not before encountered. Simply put, they were there for an experience they weren’t likely to have everyday.

We enter the theater with a group of young people, pre-teens, tweens and teens. They’re here to expand their musical horizons, and equally as important, they’re witnessing young men that look like themselves-- their brothers, uncles and fathers singing in harmony. A harmony hard sought and sacrificed for. A harmony effusing the traces of rehearsals that assuredly went late into many a night. A harmony which sacrificed brilliant individual voices to give rise to one rich, deep, sweet, commanding, voice. The group harmony intertwined a distinct cadence and measure, which seemed to push the well placed solos to even greater heights. Thus giving these young listeners something to reflect on “our strongest individual efforts will often pale against our strongest community ones.” Indeed, this performance was about community; it was about being a part of something greater than oneself and the celebration of realized potential; it was about producing something beautiful and witnessing the appreciation of that beauty born of sacrifice and commitment.

After the performance, as we headed back to the bus we offered our Isha prayer and began to discuss the nights experience with our Muslim youth. Reviews were mixed, however the candor and thoughtful way they expressed them was admirable. Some lamented about how long the performance was while others asked why they didn’t sing any songs they’ve heard on the radio? Nevertheless they all agreed that what they saw took hard work, preparation and unity. As they unloaded the bus, while telling jokes and listening to their i-pods, we reminded them of their 30 day Qur’an challenge (see website for more information). With the nonchalance only teens can muster, they assured us they were on top of it and offered a quick thank you as they departed toward their waiting parents. With this thank you we, at Bridging the Gap, said All praise is due to Allah, for all that is good comes from him.

Bridging the Gap Inc. (501)(c3) continues to serve our community by serving those charged with its future survival, our youth. We seek to Bridge the Gap between potential and achievement, ignorance and knowledge, ability and service, want and plenty, past-present and future. “Does any of you wish that he should have a garden with date-palms and vines and streams flowing underneath, and all kinds of fruit, while he is stricken with old age, and his children are not strong (enough to look after themselves)- that it should be caught in a whirlwind, with fire therein, and be burnt up? Thus doth Allah make clear to you (His) Signs; that ye may consider” Qur’an 2:266

Studies show, it takes about a month to form a habit, and what better habit could our youth develop than connecting with the word of Allah (God) on a daily basis. We've challenged our youth, at the CMECCA/BRIDGING THE GAP Islamic Weekend School, to read the Qur'an everyday during the month of March, and we invite you to do the same, wherever you are. It doesn't matter if they only read one ayat (verse), just as long as they're reading!

We want to encourage our youth and offer them incentives for completing this task, because we know that this is one of the most valuable habits we could ever help them to form. We'll be rewarding students of the CMECCA/BRIDGING THE GAP Islamic Weekend School with Certificates and Prizes along the way, and at the end of the month. For those of you with children who don't attend the Weekend School, but would like to participate, one of the ideas a parent presented was to get a jar and put a dollar into it for every successful day your child completes; at the end of the month your child gets whatever he or she has earned. We've included a copy of the "Challenge Tracker", given to our students, at the bottom of the page, just click on the link and print it out.

We pray that you join us in the Qur'an challenge and that it is one you and your child will benefit from. We make dua (supplication/prayer) for a successful month! Also, please feel free to comment and share your experience with us!